Washington based sports talker 106.7FM The Fan is following the lead of parent company CBS Radio.
In a first for the industry, CBS RADIO today announced the launch of “The FAN Sports Network,” the first four channel HD Radio digital multicast station in the country. WJFK-FM, 106.7 The Fan is now offering sports followers in the Washington, D.C. area subscription free access to CBS RADIO’s biggest sports radio stations in the Northeast including Baltimore’s WJZ-FM (HD2), New York’s WFAN (HD3) and Philadelphia’s WIP (HD4).
HD RadioTechnology, developed by iBiquity Digital Corporation, allows broadcasters to provide listeners with more programming choices via additional channels located within their existing FM frequencies. Known as HD2/HD3/HD4 channels, the stations can be accessed via an HD Radio receiver of which there are more than 100 different models available at over 14,000 retail outlets. Harris Broadcast Communications provided CBS RADIO with the complete transmission system to support this inaugural HD4 station. Through the use of the innovative, cutting edge and cost-effective technology of the HPX30 transmitter, WJFK is able to broadcast its sports quadcast within the new FCC-authorized power level with crystal-clear digital reception.
Said Chris Oliviero, Vice President of Programming, CBS RADIO, “This industry milestone is a great way to further promote and distribute the premier programming on CBS RADIO’s exclusive portfolio of sports radio stations. Washington D.C. is home to a diverse range of sports fans, many originally from other parts of the Northeast, making WJFK an ideal home for this breakthrough quadcast. We’re thrilled to offer local audiences various opinions and insights from the best sports stations up and down the East Coast.”
Commented Boomer Esiason, co-host of morning drive on WFAN, and former NFL and University of Maryland quarterback, “I’ve witnessed first hand the enthusiasm for sports in the D.C. Metro area – not just for the local teams but the entire landscape of professional and college sports. Being able to interact and re-connect with the fans is a great way to expand the dialogue and debate that makes sports radio so unique.”
WJFK’s Lavar Arrington added, “Having spent many years of my football career in New York and Pennsylvania I’m very familiar with WFAN and WIP and know they put out great programming – even if I didn’t always agree with what they were saying. Hopefully they’ll be kind to me now that they are broadcasting in my hometown.”
Sports Radio 66 WFAN pioneered the all-sports format in 1987, and 610 WIP debuted soon thereafter. In November 2008, CBS RADIO launched 105.7 The Fan, Baltimore’s first FM sports station. WJFK introduced its 24/7 sports format to D.C. residents in July 2009.
Among the most popular programs and talent on CBS RADIO’s Northeast sports radio stations include WFAN’s Boomer and Carton (6:00-10:00AM) and Mike Francesa (1:00-6:30PM); WIP’s Angelo Cataldi (5:30-10:00AM) and Howard Eskin (3:00-7:00PM); and WJZ’s Ed Norris (5:00-9:00AM) and Scott Garceau (2:00-6:00PM) complementing WJFK’s Sports Junkies (5:00-10:00AM) and LaVar Arrington (2:00-6:00PM).
So listeners can change back and forth without leaving their radio players.
The can be done on the ESPN Radio player so if you wish for some reason to drop in on a station outside Washington hit the stations side of the player and you will be offered a number of different options.
